I watch the slow breaths of my little girl as she sleeps, troubled, coughing, on her heart covered bed. Resting on love, even in pain. The stripes of her rainbow cotton dress rise and fall as she dances through the land of dreams. Today marked the fifth day of her temperature climbing to 104 and beyond. Tomorrow means more doctor visits and tests. I don't know which is worse, the parent or the child hurt.
How can this be good? Seeing a little one so changed by sickness. Energy and joy drained, crying, hurting. . . But I know this will pass, the infection will come and go, antibiotics will do their work and restore health to my sweet one again.
What about the ones who suffer with no hope of healing? The stage 4 cancer, the Parkinson's diagnosis, AIDS in Africa. . .
I am brought back to the quiet Wednesday night prayer meeting, where the small group of 30 or so meets just to talk with the Savior. The tall lady with dark hair stands to pray and praise, "Lord I am thankful for cancer," you can almost feel the whispered gasp rise in the air. She continues with emotion as she prays with upturned face, "I am thankful for cancer because without it my father would never have known You. If he had died suddenly, he never would have had the time to think about eternity. Thank you Lord, for giving him cancer so that You could give him salvation." Collective sighs and tear misted eyes fill the room.
He knows our pain and He knows the joy that will come out of that pain. And maybe dying isn't the worst thing that can happen to a person if it secures their eternity. And maybe He knows how it feels to walk the road of affliction. And maybe He put that promise in His Word to encourage us and help us through our afflictions and teach us to fully trust Him. . .
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love
God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28
"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering
produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character
produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love
has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has
been given to us." Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)
God is always good and even in trouble, even in pain, even in sickness, even in death He works it 'for my good and for His glory.'
(This old song comes to mind.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud_g_tWHplA&feature=player_detailpage
FOR MY GOOD AND FOR HIS GLORY recorded by The Hayes Family
Written by Rebecca J. Peck
(c) Copyright Thomas Peck Music (BMI)
VERSE I
I MUST ADMIT
THAT I DON’T UNDERSTAND
WHY GOD WOULD LET ME FACE
THIS PAINFUL CIRCUMSTANCE.
ALL I HAVE TO CLING TO IS HIS WORD AND HIS NAME,
BUT THAT’S ENOUGH,
SO I WILL TRUST.
CHORUS
IT’S FOR MY GOOD AND FOR HIS GLORY.
THIS TRIAL’S NOT THE END OF THE STORY.
THERE’S A BIGGER PICTURE GOD ALONE CAN SEE.
FAITH WILL TAKE ME THROUGH THIS SORROW,
FOR I KNOW HE HOLDS TOMORROW,
AND HE ASSURES ME
IT’S FOR MY GOOD AND FOR HIS GLORY.
VERSE II
BECAUSE I LOVE THE LORD,
HE’S PROMISED ME
HE’LL WORK ALL THINGS FOR GOOD,
AND THROUGH MY TEARS I BELIEVE
THAT HIS WAYS ARE HIGHER THAN ANY OF MY OWN.
THOUGH MY HEART ACHES,
HE MAKES NO MISTAKES.
BRIDGE
THOUGH I WOULD NOT HAVE CHOSEN
THE SUFF’RING THAT HAS COME.
I’M WILLING NOW TO SAY,
“LORD, NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE.”
Thankful for. . .
200. Suffering that produces endurance. . .character. . . hope
201. Medicine you can get right off the shelves (not so easy around the world)
202. Sweet snuggles from my only girl
203. Movies on the couch together
204. Safety in the storm (Irene)
205. A willing husband who helps our neighbors
206. A doctor who calls to check in on us
207. Bringing Christ glory. . . it all goes to Him!
208. Electricity and small doses of none (to make us thankful)
209. Warm chili on stormy days
